Device for cold rolling of crankshaft fillets



7425);; @I ll In den for F. F. WILLIAMS Filed July 10, 1956 2 I Me,

DEVICE FOR COLD ROLLINGOF CRANKHAFT FILLETS July 8, 1958 DEVICE FOR COLD ROLLING F CRANKSHAFT FILLETS Forrest F. Williams, Villa Park, Ill., assigner to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application `luly 10, 1956, Serial No. 596,911 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-90) This invention relates to an improvement in metal working devices. More particularly this invention concerns an improved tool particularly adapted for the cold rolling of crankshaft fillets and the like.

In the construction and deisgn of crankshafts and articles of similar configuration, it is particularly desirable to provide annular fillets at opposite ends of journal portions at the points where they are integrally connected to the counterweights of the crankshaft. These fillets are provided to strengthen the crankshaft at the ends of the journal portions so that fractures and cracking may be avoided during the operation of an engine. Thus to a great extent the provision of the annular fillets reduces failures at the junction of the journal portion to the counterweights. However since the stresses are particularly high at the fillet portions it has also been found by metallurgical experiments and tests that cold working of the fillets will relieve, to a great extent, harmful residual stresses which might be present in the llets. By the cold working the residual stresses are to a great extent relieved by the compression of the fillet thus resulting in more desirable metallurgical properties. The cold working of the fillets can be of course accomplished, by many different devices. However such devices may be rather complicated involving the establishment of expensive and costly machinery. It is a prime object of this invention therefore to provide an improved device for cold Working of crankshaft fillets and the like, the said tool being simple in construction and being adapted for use with turning equipment, such as a lathe, etc. A still further object is to provide an improved crankshaft fillet rolling device adapted to exert maximum compressive forces against the fillets of a crankshaft, the said crankshaft fillets being positioned at the points of connection to the cheeks or counterweights, the said tool being readily adapted to a turning device in which the crankshaft may be rotated about its axis.

A still further object is to provide an improved fillet rolling device adapted'to place laterally spaced fillets under compressive stresses by means of rollers which may be placed in compressive relation with respect to the liilets by means of an adjustable tension device provided on the tool.

A still further object is to provide an improved cold rolling tool engageable with the fillet portions of a crankshaft, for compressing the same, while the crankshaft is being rotated in a turning machine such as a lathe, the tool being easily disconnectable from operative engagea nient with the crankshaft so that it can be quickly shifted from one crankshaft journal to another.

These and further objects will be more readily apparent from a reading of the description when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is `a plan view of a conventional crankshaft supported on the rotating elements of a conventional machine tool, such as a lathe, etc.;

atent O ICC Figure 2 is a side elevational View, with certain por- Vtions in section, of a tool or device for cold rolling'of crankshaft fillets and the like, showing the tool attached Y to a section of a crankshaft;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure 2. l p

Referring now particularly to Figure l, a crankshaft is generally designated by the reference character 10. The type of crankshaft disclosed in Figure 1 islconventional in internal combustion engines and comprises generally bearing portions 11 and longitudinally spaced and eccentrically disposed `connecting rod journal portions 12. The connecting rod journal portions 12 are integrally formed and are provided at opposite ends with counterweights or cheeks 13, the point of juncture of the journals to the counterweights 12 having annular fillet or fillet portions 14. The crankshafts of course may be cast or forged and the structure is integral throughout. The fillets may be provided during the forging or casting or they may be machined after the casting operation. Opposite ends of the crankshaft 10 are provided with connecting portions 15 and 16, and these portions are suitably supported in a chuck 17 and on a spindle 18 of a conventional turning machine such as a lathe or other shop tool (not shown).

Referring now toFigui-es 2 and 3 a fillet rolling device is generally designated by the reference character 20. It includes a frame 21 having at one end a downwardly projecting leg 22 suitably slotted at its lower end `as indicated at 23. A roller 24 is disposed in the slot, and is journalled on a shaft or pin 25 suitably supported at the lower end of the leg 22. At its opposite end the fraine 21 is provided with a leg 26 having a longitudinally extending bore 27.

As best shown in Figure 3 a pair of arms 28 are connected to the frame 21, the said arms 28 being positioned on opposite sides of the frame 21. Each arm 28 comprises an end member 29 suitably connected to a hook member 30. A pin 31 extends through the arms and end members 29, the said pin 31 also extending through a lost motion or elongated slot 32 provided in the frame 21. A stop engaging plate 33 is suitably connected to the end members 29 and is adapted to engage a stop 34 having Ia hook end 35, the stop being suitably connected to the frame 21 by means of a` screw 36. The larms `28 are thus pivoted on the frame 21 and the said arms may be suitably adjusted relative to the frame by means of an adjusting screw 37.

An arcuate plate section 39 is disposed between and connected to the hook members 30 by means of pins 40. As best shown in Figure 2, U-shaped brackets 41 are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting rod` journal member 12 when the device 20 is placed in operative position on the crankshaft 10. Each U-shaped bracket 41 includes a shaft 42 on which `a fillet roller wheel 42 is journalled. Another U-shaped bracket 43 is provided adjacent the bracket 41 and includes a shaft 44 on which a fillet roller wheel 45 is positioned. The brackets 41 and 43 are suitably pivoted in recesses 46 provided in opposed relation on the arcuate section 39. The opposed recesses 46 communicate with opposed bores 47 in which shafts or pins 48 are positioned and on which the U- brackets 41 and 43 pivot. As best shown in Figure 4 the brackets 41 and 43 during the operative position of the device assume the diverging relationship with the wheels 45 and 42 engaging the fillets 14 in compressive relation.

As best shown in Figure 2 a. tension member 49 is slidably-disposed Within the bore 27. The tension member 49 is slotted at one end as indicated at 50 and an idler wheel 51 is rotatably journalled within the slot by means ,of a shaft 52. A collar 53 is securely fastened to the tension member 59. The collar 53 holds captive, la spring S4 which at one end engages a thrust bearing 55. The thrust bearing 55 encircles a reduced portion 56 forming an integral part of the tension member 49. The reduced portion 56 has at its end a stem portion 57 which slidably engages a bore 58 formed in an adjusting screw 59. The adjusting screw 59 is provided with a collar o@ which also has a portion thereof supporting the thrust bearing S5. The adjustingV screw S9 further extends through a threaded bore 61 formed in the projecting leg 22. Washers 62 are supported on the adjusting screw 59 `and a hand wheel 63 is suitably connected to one end of the screw 59 for'rotating the same in the threaded bore 61. A supportQ/i which may be the bed of a lathe or may be a similar construction adjacent the turning machine suitably supports the roller 24 and the device 2t) in rolling relation.

As previously indicated the object of the device is to roll or cold Work the crankshaft fillets of a crankshaft journal portion. yAssuming now, as shown in Figure l, that the crankshaft is disposed on the chuck 17 and spindle 18 of a lathe; it can be seen that rotating movement of the chuck 17 will cause rotation of the crankshaft about its axis. While the crankshaft is standing still the fillet rolling tool may be easily and readily applied. The arms 28 may be in hinged position relative to the frame Z1. This means that the stop 34 has been moved away from the stop engaging means 33 by moving the arms longitudinally away from the frame 21 as permitted by the limited arrangement of the elongated or lost motion slot 32. Thus it is obvious that the arms 23 can now be pivoted relativerto the framer21. In this position it is a simple matter to lplace the arms 23 into straddling position with respect to the journal portion 12 which is to be rolled. The frame 21 can now again be placed into locked relation with respect tothe stop 34 and into the position shown in Figure V2. At this point the fillet rollers 42 and 4S are in engagement with the fillets 14 in the manner indicated in Figure 4 though compressive relation has at this point not yet been attained. Howeven the brackets 41 land 44 are self-alignable as indicated in Figure 4, or assume the diverging position by virtue of their relaionship with respect to the lletportions. The operator now turns the handle 64 whereby one portion of the thrust bearing is rotated and moves'with the adjusting screw S9 toward the journal portion 12. This causes the spring 54 to exert a resilient thrust against the collar 53 thus urging the tension member 49 toward the journal member 12 so that the wheel 51 is Vplaced in resiliently compressive rolling engagement with respect to the journal member 12. The spring 54 thus constantly exerts avforce which draws the fillet rollers 42 and 45 into tight compressive engage ment with respect to the fillets 14. Furthermore the position of the roller 51 assures that the device is securely clamped on the crankshaft and the fillet rollers are securely held in compressive rolling relation against the fillet. The collar 53 is provided with a key 65 thatslidingly engages a slot 66 provided in the frame 2l so that the tension member is held against rotation during operation ofthe screw 59.

As the crankshaft 1i) is rotating, the eccentric disposition of the journal members 12 of course causes reciprocating movement of the device 2li?. This reciprocation results in the rolling of the roller 24 on the support 64 in a back and forth manner. As indicated the support 64 may comprise an attachment to the bed of a lathe or can be any suitable support which prevents the device from rotating and permits the reciprocating'movement during rotation of the crankshaft. After the fillets have been suitably rolled it is a simple matter to unloosen the spring tension 54 by rotating the handle 64. Thus the tension member 49 is retracted and upon such retraction the arms 2S may be moved longitudinally with respect to the frame 21 whereby the .hook 35 is disengaged from the stop engaging member 33 so that the arms can again be hingedly moved and the device can be readily removed from the crankshaft. Thus the ,device has great facility for rolling the crankshaft fillets and can quickly be removed for operating upon a succeeding part. It is of course obvious that the device is equally adapted for use of rolling fiiiets in connection with devices other than crankshafts and it is not to be construed that the application of this tool is limited to just crankshaft or similar units. Thus it is apparent that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and it must now be underf stood that changes and modificationsmay be made in the construction which do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for rolling laterally spaced annular llets of a journal member, the said journal'member being connected at opposite ends adjacent said fillets to coaxial members having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said journal member, comprising; a frame, a pair of arms, each arm being disposed on opposite sides of said frame, hinge means l connecting said arms to said frame, said hinge means including a lost motion connection whereby said arms may be moved longitudinally and hingedly with respect to said frame, a stop on said frame, stop engaging means engaging said stop for maintaining said arms against hinging movement, a hook shaped member on each of said arms adapted to straddle the journal member, a pair of roller brackets connected lto said hook shaped member in opposed relation, a fillet roller on each bracket adapted to engage each fillet in rolling engagement during rotation of said journal and coaxial members, said brackets during operation being disposed in generally diverging relation, means for resiliently urging said fillet rollers .into compressive relation with respect to said fillets, said means including an idler roller adapted to engage `said journal member, a tension member connected to said idler roller Iand to said frame, and adjustable resilient means urging said tension member and said idler roller in a direction longitudinally with respect to said frame to resiliently lock said device on said journal rnember, means on said frame for releasing the tension mem ber land roller from engagement with said-journal member whereby said arms may be moved longitudinally on said frame to disengage said stop :and stop engaging means whereby said arms andsaid frame may be relatively hingedly moved to disengage said device from said journal member and means on said frame adapted to support said device against rotation during rotation of said journal member.

2. A device for rolling laterally spacedA annular fillets of a journal member, the said journal member being connected at opposite ends adjacent said fillets to coaxial members having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said journal member, comprising; a frame, an arm, hinge means connecting said arm to theframe, a stop on said frame, stop engaging means engaging said stop for maintaining said` arm against hinging movement, a hook shaped member on said arm adapted to straddle the journal member, opposed pairs of fillet rollers pivotally :and rollably mounted on said hook shaped member and adapted to engage axially spaced fillets in rolling engagement dur ing rotation of said journal and coaxial members, said rollers during operation having their axes of rotation in non-parallel relationA to said journal member, means for rcsiliently urging said-fillet rollers into compressive rclation with respect to said fillets, said means including an idler roller adapted to engage said journal member, a tension member connected to` said idler roller and to arsenaal said frame, adjustable resilient means urging said tension member and said idler roller in a direction longitudinally with respect to said frame -to re-siliently lock said device on said journal member, and means on said frame for releasing the tension member and roller from engagement with said journal member whereby said arm may be moved longitudinally on lsaid frame to disengage said stop and stop engaging means whereby said arms and `said frame may be relatively hingedly moved to disengage said device from said journal member.

3. A device for rolling laterally spaced annular fillets of a journal member, the said journal member being connected at opposite ends adjacent said fillets to coaxial members having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said journal member, comprising; a frame, an arm, binge means 'connecting said arm to the frame, means releasably connecting said arm torsaid frame against hinging movement, a hook shaped member on said arm adapted to straddle the journal member, a plurality of roller means connected to said hook shaped member and in the straddling position being disposed on opposite sides of a journal memlll E5 ber, said roller means each including a pair of rollers adapted to engage each llet in rolling engagement during rotation of said journal and coaxial members, means for resiliently urging said llet rollers into compressive relation with respect to said llets, said means including an idler roller adapted to engage said journal member, a tension member connected to said idler roller and to said frame, and adjustable resilient means urging said tension member and said idler roller in a direction longitudinally with respect to said frame to resiliently lock said device on said journal member, and means on said frame for releasing the tension member and roller from engagement with said journal member whereby said arm and said frame may 'oe relatively hingedly moved to diseugage said device from said journal member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES 'PATENTS M5 `2,053,009 Schmidt Sept. l, 1936 2,357,515 Jackman Sept. 5, 1944 2,522,084 Baruch Sept. 12, 1950 

